Proposed CIP prioritizes public safety, education in Wicomico County

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Big plans are in the works for Wicomico County. County Executive Julie Giordano proposing a Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2029 this Wednesday morning.

The county executive presented that plan to the county council this morning with several priorities. Currently, the plan has a price tag of around $10 million.

Giordano told 47 ABC WMDT the priorities for this plan were scaled down due to the lingering debt service from projects still in motion, including building out the new sheriff’s office and local school construction.

Despite that, the money would go towards the expansion of correction services, civic center upgrades, and plans for future projects with the board of education. “The board of education really wants to move forward with Fruitland Primary School. Right now, it was a $20 million ask and unfortunately, we’re just not able to fund that right now without the debt service falling off. We are able to put forward about $4 million to start that phase,” Giordano said.

Giordano said the county is in a good financial standing overall, despite those lingering debts. She anticipates the county will be out of the hole in the next two to three years.

Giordano added that her goal is to make sure that taxpayers’ dollars are still being spent in a positive way. “People need to see their tax dollars at work. Not just for our salaries and operational costs but they need to see it on our roads, parks, updating schools, civic centers, and things like that. It’s one of my big priorities,” she said.

Giordano said that some of those future projects will also include airport upgrades and additional resources for EMS. The county executive says there are also plans to move corrections into the county’s new public safety complex.

As a reminder, this is just a proposal. It would have to be approved by the county council before being accounted for in the budget.